Roshani felt small, small and weak and afraid. The sculpted columns of the palace walls loomed large around her, imposing and grand. It was dark, only mounted torches and intricate chandeliers lighting the halls. Roshani stood tall in spite of her fear- her mother had taught her never to be afraid of anything.

She didn't know where she was going exactly, but something unexplainable drew her further down the hall. Her pretty nightgown trailed along the marble floor, her tiny feet pattering against the cold stone.

"Roshani."

Roshani turned at her mother's voice. There was a door to her left that hadn't been there before- the door to her and her mother's chambers.

The Empress of Sazia, her royal highness Queen Yasmin was the most beautiful woman in the empire, Roshani was certain. Her features weren't delicate and soft like most palace ladies, but bold and distinguished, just as beautiful and even more fascinating. Her dark curls were tied back behind her ears, which were studded with large round sapphires. The jewels still dulled when compared to her mother's eyes, which sparkled like the reflection of the stars upon the ocean waves at night.

A mischievous smile lit up the Empress's face. "It's late. You know you should be in bed, little daeva." Her tone was stern but her eyes were full of mirth. Roshani took a step in her mother's direction, then froze. Her mother suddenly frowned.

"What's that, Roshani?"

Roshani looked down. She held a small, glass vial in her hands. It hadn't been there before, but now she clutched it tight.

Her mother's brow furrowed in concern. "Bring that here right now." Roshani took a step back. She wanted to listen to her mother, but the desire to protect her was stronger. She knew she was capable of saving her.

Roshani dashed away down the hall, until the surprised cries of her mother demanding she return faded away. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her, until she was bending over and gasping for breath.

When she looked up again, she was at the threshold of the door to another chamber. This one was less familiar to her, but she recognized it nonetheless: the chambers of Empress Tarsa, her mother's bitter rival. Roshani's hand clenched around the vial, anger flaring in her chest. She stepped toward the door.

"Roshani?"

Roshani's head turned toward the voice. Soraya stood a few paces away, rubbing her eyes and tilting her head to the side. She was so little, still only four years old. A sharp spike of fear went down Roshani's spine at the sight of her. She wasn't supposed to be here, wasn't supposed to see... The last thing she wanted was to get Soraya involved in this too.

But her oblivious little sister only tilted her head in curiosity. "What are you doing?" she asked. "What's that in your hand..."

Roshani opened her mouth to answer, but before she could the scene around her suddenly shifted. She was no longer in the palace halls at night, but kneeling before her father's throne in broad daylight. Only his closest advisors and several heads of the great houses were present, in addition to Roshani and Soraya. The Shah's expression was of mingled rage, horror, and sadness, as if his mind simply could not comprehend all of the emotions turning in his head.

Slowly, he turned his piercing gaze away from Roshani and toward Soraya.

"Is your sister telling the truth?" he asked her. He didn't shout it, but Soraya still shook like a leaf, clearly terrified and bewildered by being under the spotlight for the first time. Roshani desperately caught her gaze. She knew tears were streaming down her face, she knew Soraya was young and scared but she still begged her silently. Please, she pleaded. Please tell the truth.

But Soraya only shook her head vehemently before starting to cry. "No, no," she answered. "I want my mother! Where is she?"

"No!" Roshani screamed desperately. "Tell the truth, tell the truth!" A guard rushed forward to restrain her before she could lunge for Soraya and shake her by her shoulders. The Shah's expression darkened. Roshani just kept screaming in rage, until everything around her faded away, until her voice went hoarse and her vision went dark.

Her eyes shot open and she sat up with a gasp. She felt as if all the air had been squeezed out of her lungs, as if she'd just fallen from a great height and felt her stomach swoop. She squeezed her eyes shut again as she caught her breath, glancing about her.

She was in her regular bed chamber, the early morning sunlight streaming in through the large windows. Roshani put a hand over her chest, feeling her rapid heartbeat gradually slow down. Just a dream, she told herself sharply. It was only a dream.

That part of her life was over now, far behind her. After the incident, nightmares about it had haunted her for years. This had been the first time she'd had that nightmare in a long, long time. It had shaken her badly, but it was nothing she hadn't gone through before.

Still feeling trembly, Roshani pushed back the covers and stood up. Her own screams reverberated in her ears and her heart clenched in her chest. She leaned against her desk and shut her eyes closed tightly, willing the tears away.

She had done what she had done. There was no taking back her actions now.

She took a deep inhale, drawing herself up. No, she couldn't afford to be drawn back to that time. Kasra's coronation was only a few days away. She would raise him to change this palace from what it had been.

He would bring glory to Sazia- Roshani would make sure of it.

She had a sudden, overwhelming impulse to see Kasra and make sure he was alright. She stood to leave before pausing and grabbing a dagger from her desk. Gripping the hilt tightly, she left her chambers. Kasra's nursery was just down the corridor, not far from her at all, but something made Roshani quicken her pace. A dark wave swept through her, and her heartbeat raced in her chest. Something was wrong. She could sense it.

At the doors to Kasra's nursery, her fears were confirmed. The guards that were stationed outside of his rooms at night to protect him all lay on the ground in a bloody heap. Roshani's stomach plummeted. She shoved open the doors and froze. 

There was a struggle ongoing in the room. A figure dressed all in black with their face covered by a mask moved toward Kasra's crib, but was blocked by Katayoun. The old woman looked half crazed with fury as she brandished her own knife, blocking the assassin's path. She had lived to see the death of all of her children. She looked ready to destroy the world before she let one of her grandchildren die before her eyes.

The old woman's brazen stand was only enough to give the assassin pause for a few moments, but it was enough. Before they had a chance to eliminate Katayoun, Roshani aimed and sent her dagger spiraling through the air. It sunk into the black-clad assassin's chest, piercing their heart. They froze, standing suspended for a moment, before they toppled to the ground.

Roshani's gaze locked with Katayoun's over the body. Then the moment was broken. Katayoun turned and rushed for the crib. Roshani crossed the room to join her, her heart in her throat. But Kasra was fine. He hardly stirred as Katayoun lifted him into her arms and cradled him tightly to her chest, rocking him back and forth. He'd slept through the entire ordeal.

Roshani looked at him, safe in their grandmother's arms, and released a shaky breath. If she hadn't had that premonition... If she hadn't arrived in time... She swallowed thickly and shoved down such thoughts. She had arrived in time. Kasra was alive. And he would be crowned heir to the throne, as Roshani decreed.

Roshani's expression hardened as she turned to look at the body on the nursery floor. She couldn't help herself- she moved forward and kicked it in the chest, hard. It was only a shame that the assassin was already dead, and she wouldn't have the pleasure of torturing them until they begged for mercy.

There were any number of potential enemies who could have sent that assassin. Almost too many to count. In the end, though, it didn't much matter who was responsible for this particular crime.

Because soon Roshani would crush them all beneath her feet.